“This uprising ended as a mere farce before it even began, but there’s no guarantee there won’t be another.”
“…If Aria doesn’t keep things in check, problems are bound to arise again.”
Plona and Lavina let out worried sighs.
The reason this uprising was as small and clumsy as it was, to the point where Selina could catch them off guard before it even began, was solely because Aria Scarlet was at the peak of the United Kingdom.
An overwhelming power and appropriate persuasion—a precarious balance maintained between the two is instantly tipped the moment the Queen falters.
The first rebellion attempt by the humans occurring at a time like this was probably due to the news that Aria, who had never been defeated since the founding of the kingdom, had lost for the first time and was in a coma.
Now that Aria has woken up, Plona and Lavina felt no urge to push her, especially given that she had just returned from the brink of death and was in shock over the empty spot left by Martini.
“Plona, what will you do if Aria insists on running away?”
“Of course, I would follow my sister’s wishes.”
Plona answered resolutely, without the slightest hesitation, to Lavina’s question, who was sitting backward on her chair, chin resting on the backrest.
“I have no intention of forcing my sister into any obligations, regardless of the situation. Besides, she’s already too responsible and always tries to shoulder everything alone.”
Remembering the grace she received and embracing those she has taken in to the end, that’s the Aria Plona knows.
Having experienced various tragedies, her personality has become somewhat twisted—she is unbelievably cruel and cold to those she deems her enemies. However, the nature of a person does not change so easily.
There’s always a reason why people gather. If she were a tyrant, so many diverse races would not flock to her side.
The fact that she even mentioned running away, even in passing, meant that it was a testament to the overwhelming pressure she was under. Plona felt her heart breaking.
“But to ask that makes me wonder if Lavina has a different opinion?”
“It’s not that… It’s just that running away doesn’t solve the problem. If we consider the likelihood of survival, wouldn’t it be better to attempt a full-on assault together?”
“To be frank, I believe there’s no chance of winning either way. You know? We’re not facing an enemy we can defeat in battle. Rather, running away and hoping that Luminous doesn’t find us is our only option, with at least a dust-like chance of survival.”
Plona had spent the last 11 days re-evaluating the battles against Luminous and plotting strategies.
The estimated number of puppets based on the population of Lusher. The required forces to break through and reach Luminous. And the powers of Luminous she witnessed on that day—all the variables she could consider at this point.
Her final conclusion was that there was no way to win.
When laid out, it sounds grand, but ultimately, the calculations weren’t that complicated.
First, with regards to facing Luminous, the number of soldiers has become meaningless, so regular soldiers are out.
That simplifies the outcome.
Even though they gathered the elite of the United Kingdom 11 days ago, they suffered a devastating loss, losing 40% of their deployed forces and three powerful vampires. Now, how could they fight Luminous, who had become even stronger while they were at their weakest?
The sacrifices of Martini and Stella were mournful. Still, to Plona, the well-being of Aria, just one person, was far more important than any remaining “subordinates of the Grand Duke.”
“That’s… not an incorrect statement. Though even that sounds optimistic.”
They couldn’t stop the rumors of Aria being alive from spreading.
Even if they disguised her death now, Luminous would inevitably doubt and would search the entire continent to find and kill Aria.
Some might scoff at how you could possibly find a single vampire in such a vast continent. However, having experienced the overwhelming power and despairing gap, one couldn’t afford to laugh at such matters.
But all of this was within the context of Aria suggesting escape. Due to her nature, she wouldn’t be able to ignore the debt she owed to the three vampires who sacrificed themselves for her.
Knock, knock—
While the worries of the vampire and elf deepened, the sudden knock woke them from their thoughts.
Plona stood up and opened the door.
The visitor was a simple messenger with news to deliver. Plona mechanically tore open the letter handed to her by the messenger.
With each line she read, the dullness in her eyes began to spark with life.
Doubt, shock, joy, confusion, and more doubt. Lavina, unable to contain her curiosity at the rapid changes on Plona’s face, asked.
“Who sent this?”
“…It’s from Duke Perbat.”
Lavina tilted her head in curiosity.
Slein Perbat, a subordinate of Grand Duke Jeil Helraig and the second-in-command of Helraig Duchy.
It wouldn’t be strange for a man who had been too busy to personally visit them to have temporarily taken command in the absence of Martini and Jeil, but one could also question why he felt the need to communicate via letter instead of verbally.
Then there must be something special behind it. A reason even the messenger shouldn’t yet know.
And Lavina’s suspicion proved correct.
“Bianca Serneff, the Duchess who remained in Helraig Duchy, has come here. And she said—”
Plona bit her lip, her expression vague, hesitating to fully trust the content of the letter she held.
“What did she say?”
The impatient Lavina pressed for an answer.
Typically, two effective ways to infuriate someone involve either cutting them off mid-sentence or—
“The Duke is still alive.”
*
Unable to settle my troubled heart and wandering aimlessly, I eventually left the Knight Order Randell Branch and set foot onto the street.
Of course, I still had the presence of mind to disguise myself to the extent that no one would recognize me.
My disguise merely consisted of thick outerwear to conceal my figure and white hair, so while it might raise suspicion, it shouldn’t expose my identity. After all, the truly suspicious individuals had already been caught long ago, so there was no need for concern.
Thus, I walked the streets I once roamed as a human, now retracing them as a vampire.
The street scenery was both familiar and altered. One thing was certain: there were definitely fewer people compared to a few years ago.
The residents here were likely still evacuating to avoid becoming puppets, having lost their sense of self due to Luminous’s influence.
Even in daylight, the quiet streets offered an oddly suitable atmosphere for me to drift around in a daze.
There were a few humans left and beastmen keeping watch over them, but they showed little significant interest in me.
For a moment, I was bothered by the fact that even the beastman soldiers showed no interest in me, but soon enough I could see a reasonable explanation.
They must think there is no hope left.
The Queen they trusted and followed had barely escaped with her life, three of the kingdom’s strongest forces had perished, and many elite soldiers were lost as well.
Meanwhile, Luminous was still going strong. If the one who had fully adapted to his vessel began to move again, that would be the moment marking the end of humankind’s era.
In these circumstances, there was no need for them to keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious humans. Be they human, beastman, or vampire, they were all destined to die soon.
This was also my fault. Because I failed to fulfill my responsibilities, someone who believed in me and followed me lost their way.
“…Aria?”
As I was walking lost in thought, a voice calling my name snapped me back to reality, and I reflexively turned my head towards the direction of the sound.
“Wait a moment. How do they know me?”
I was currently hiding not just my face, but my entire figure. One would think it unlikely for anyone in the street to recognize me.
The only person who would call me Aria would be Lavina at most. However, no matter how deranged my mental state was, I wouldn’t be unable to recognize her voice.
Realizing this, I quickly lowered my head and feigned ignorance. Yet the figure seemed to have gained some certainty from my earlier reaction and hesitated a bit before asking again.
“Is it really, really you, Aria…?”
Tap, tap. The hesitant sound of footsteps drew closer.
Debating whether to run away, I caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar old woman’s voice coming from somewhere I vaguely recognized.
And in that instant, I froze at the fleeting sight before my eyes.
An unmistakably familiar building, one I could never forget. Behind the old woman stood the worn orphanage.
Had I been walking aimlessly, staring at the ground, and ended up here? It seems that since waking up again, nothing has been going my way.
And the old woman standing in front of the orphanage was undoubtedly someone from my memories.
Amy. The head of the orphanage I once relied upon.
Now, facing the remnants of a weak past I wished to avoid, I grit my teeth, turned away, and responded in a low voice.
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